Magazine

Why Movado Is Ticking Right Along

January 16, 2005

By Gene G. Marcial No major street analyst follows Movado Group (MOV), but a number of money managers are high on the watchmaker -- pushing the stock up from 13.64 in August to 17.74 on Jan. 5. "It is still reasonably priced and a better buy than other luxury-goods stocks, such as Tiffany and Coach," says David Sowerby of Loomis Sayles, which owns shares. He notes that Movado's price-earnings ratio is 17, based on estimated earnings in fiscal 2005 ending Jan. 31 -- less than Tiffany's (TIF) 21.5 or Coach's (COH) 29.2. Aside from its Movado, Concord, and Ebel watches, Movado also makes watches for Tommy Hilfiger (TOM), ESQ, and Coach. Apparel designer Hugo Boss recently signed Movado to make "Hugo" and "Boss" watches. Susan Ng of Sidoti, a research boutique, who rates Movado a buy, says it is profiting from the luxury market's resurgence, which she says will continue to flourish. She sees earnings of $1 a share in fiscal 2005 and $1.15 in 2006, up from 92 cents in 2004.

Note: Unless otherwise noted, neither the sources cited in Inside Wall Street nor their firms hold positions in the stocks under discussion. Similarly, they have no investment banking or other financial relationships with them.